Recognitions & Celebrations
NCSCA State Conference School Counselor Recognitions
Each year a school counselor, counselor educator and school counseling director are recognized for their contributions to the field of school counseling at the annual North Carolina School Counselor Association fall conference. This year's conference theme was "Plug Into Your Power" and each of these recipients have exemplified how their power has made remarkable impact in school counseling in North Carolina and beyond. Congratulations to all of this year's recipients!
School Counselor of the Year 2025--Lauren Mena (Winding Springs Elementary School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System).
Counselor Educator of the Year 2025--Dr. Taheera Blount (North Carolina Central University)
School Counseling Director of the Year 2025--Tomeka Ward-Satterfield (Durham Public Schools)
National Career Development Month
November is National Career Development Month We are grateful for our partnership with career development coordinators in delivering services to students and families for career and postsecondary readiness. Special thanks to our state career development and work-based learning consultants, Amy Policastro Schroeder and Jeanne Turner.
Take a moment to explore the great session, facilitated at the NCSCA fall conference by Amy Policastro Schroeder. "CTE Career Clusters and Pathways Changes: A Sneak Peek at the Modernized Career Clusters Framework" - Click here to access the PowerPoint PDF file.
National School Psychology Week
We honor our school psychologists who celebrated National School Psychology week November 3rd-7th and thank you for being vital partners in student success. This year's theme was "Finding Your Path", in which you do to creating safe, supportive school communities that help every student chart their unique journey. Special thanks, to our state school psychology consultant, Megan Cardin, for leading the call and providing direction for school psychologists in NC.
Policy, Practice & Legislative Updates
NC College Connect
NC College Connect Application deadline is January 2, 2026. Be sure to submit your direct admission application by this date to claim your spot.
Clinical Coverage Policy 10C, School-Based Services (SBS) Provided by Local Education Agencies
SBS are designed to improve access to medically necessary healthcare in the school environment for Medicaid beneficiaries. These services are billed by the LEA and are provided by employed or contracted personnel of the LEA. SBS include the following:
- Outpatient Specialized Therapies (AUD, OT, PT, and SLP)
- Behavioral Health
- Nursing
The key proposed updates will accomplish the following:
- Expand types of eligible providers
- Expand eligible services
- Align CPT codes eligible for telehealth and telephonic visits with what is allowed in other NC Medicaid Clinical Coverage Policies
- Expand from only services pursuant to an IEP, IFSP, IHP, BIP or 504 Plan to other plan written within a provider’s scope of practice.
- Expand/Update authorization (order) requirements from MD only.
The public comment posting period ends 12/12/2025.
NC Career Course Planner Released
Help your students map their high school journey with the new Course Planner tool on NCcareers.org. The current course data was pulled from Infinite Campus (IC) early August and will be updated soon to ensure the most accurate listings. Learn more and get started: Course Planner FAQ
Career Development Plans
Visit the career development plan website to review our updated guidance document, planning tool and the 2025-2026 office hours (see dates below).
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Monday, December 15, 2025, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Friday, January 23, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Friday, February 20, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Monday, March 16, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Friday, April 17, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Monday, May 4, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
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Monday, June 1, 2026, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Strategic Plan
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and the State Board of Education (SBE) developed a bold strategic plan: Achieving Educational Excellence. The five-year plan aims to position North Carolina's public schools as the best in the United States by 2030, and it is the first joint plan between the SBE and the state superintendent. Here is a summary document with the plan highlights. Review the strategic plan pillars and identify ways it connects to your work as a school counselor (pillars 1, 3, and 4 for are areas to get you started).
ASCA National Model Update
The fifth edition of “The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs” is the next step in the journey of the school counseling profession. The fifth edition of the ASCA National Model provides a continued focus on success for each and every student and introduces a greater focus on achievement, with attendance and discipline data recognized as contributing factors to academic performance. Learn about specific changes to the ASCA National Model, fifth edition and how this will impact your work as a data-informed school counselor. See resource section to download the copy of the fifth edition.
Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
Feminine Hygiene Grant
We are excited to announce that the application for the Feminine Hygiene Products Grant Program for the 2025-2026 school year is now available. The Feminine Hygiene Products Grant Program provides grants of up to $5,000 per PSU to purchase feminine hygiene products. To receive this funding, your PSU will need to complete the grant application in its entirety. Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. PSUs that did not receive a grant in the previous fiscal year will be given preference. Please review the allotment policy (page 76) for more information.
Click here to access the Feminine Hygiene Products Grant Program Application
If you have questions about the application or grant award process, please reach out to Lillian Pinto, Reproductive Health Consultant, via email: lillian.pinto@dpi.nc.gov.
Character Education: Power of Choosing Love Webinar
Join NCDPI in an inspiring webinar featuring Scarlett Lewis, the mother of Jesse Lewis, who was a child who lost his life in the Sandy Hook Elementary school tragedy. Three powerful words guide the Choose Love Movement: nurturing, healing and love. Discover the origins of the Choose Love Movement, how the Choose Love formula strengthens school culture, student well-being, community connection and much more. Click here for registration and more details.
Innovative School Summit Scholarship Opportunity
NCDPI is excited to offer scholarships to help educators continue their professional development. In exchange for the scholarship, NCDPI ask that scholarship recipients share their learnings with the broader educator community through a webinar or presentation with the NC Department of Public Instruction. Each scholarship will cover the conference registration fee and travel expenses. Deadline to apply is December 5, 2025 and apply here.
New York (2/25/2025-2/28/2025)
Orlando (3/12/2025-3/15/2025)
Coffee & Chat with Character Education
Join us each month for an informal virtual gathering where educators across North Carolina come together to share stories, reflect, and encourage one another in this work of building character and community. Register here.
Rural School Counseling Webinar Series
Join us for a virtual professional development series designed for North Carolina’s rural school counselors. In partnership with higher education professionals, each session offers practical strategies and fresh ideas to support your work. Click here for more details.
NCSCA Grants and Scholarships
NCSCA grants are designed to empower school counseling professionals by offering funding to enhance our comprehensive school counseling programs. Grant funding can be used for various activities and programs aimed at supporting students or for individual professional development opportunities. Additionally, NCSCA offers scholarships for future and current graduate students. Graduate scholarships can be used for professional development such as conferences, travel abroad, and tuition expenses. There are mini grants, professional grants and graduate student grants. Applications close December 19th. Click here for more details.
Go Global Study Abroad Program for Educators
Global NC is thrilled to share that our 2026 Global Teachers program, an unforgettable professional development journey, will travel to the culturally and ecologically rich nations of Botswana and Zambia. These two nations and North Carolina share a history of British colonization, diverse education systems, and an emphasis on agriculture, and tourism as foundational elements of their identities. Additionally, both countries enjoy state partnerships with North Carolina, reflecting a shared commitment to collaboration and global understanding. School counselors can apply. Click here for more information and to apply.
CTE Lunch & Learn Series
Join us for an engaging Lunch & Learn series designed for school counselors, career development coordinators, and special populations coordinators. Each session will spotlight topics, tools, and best practices enhance career and postsecondary readiness support for students. Click here to register and attend the sessions.
NCSCA Emerging Leaders Applications Open December 2nd
The NCSCA Emerging Leaders Program aims to identify and cultivate the leadership potential of professional school counselors across North Carolina. Selected emerging leaders will receive opportunities for mentorship, professional development, and active participation in NCSCA initiatives, with the goal of developing future leaders for the association. Applications are due January 27th. Click here for more details.
ASCA Webinars
American School Counseling Association is offering a variety of live webinars and office hours this fall to support your comprehensive work as school counselors. November and December sessions include topics designed to strengthen practice. View the full schedule and see more detail for registration here.
- November 25th, Build Resiliency Using U.S. Marine Corps Strategies, 12-1pm
- December 8th, Making Data Work Fifth Edition, 1-2pm
SHAC Learning Collaborative
NC Healthy Schools hosts monthly opportunities for a SHAC Learning Collaborative. These monthly meetings are the last Monday of each month at 3:00pm (unless scheduled otherwise, due to holidays, etc.) and are open to all SHAC representatives (or those considering joining a SHAC) to come learn more about what other PSUs are doing, hear about various resources, and share about your activities.
These meetings will primarily focus on SHACs and the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. There will be opportunities to discuss general questions, e.g., building the team, partnerships, use of data, action planning, and questions relevant to your WSCC efforts. Meeting link for monthly meetings.
Youth Legislative Assembly
The 2026 Youth Legislative Assembly will be held March 13-15. YLA is a mock legislative session where high school students voice their opinions and vote on issues concerning local, state and national government.
The conference gives high school students an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the workings of local, state and national government. Active participation in YLA increases students’ confidence and ability to debate current issues.
Any high school student in good standing at a public, private, charter or home school in North Carolina is eligible to participate in YLA. Participants do not have to have a member of the N.C. General Assembly to sponsor them. The application deadline is Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. For more information, email Erica.Gallion@ncleg.gov.
Resources
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